Election dates set to be announced to replace deceased president

A Polish parliamentary official said on Wednesday that the first round of a presidential election might be held on either June 13 or June 20 to replace deceased incumbent Lech Kaczynski, one of the victims of Saturday's Smolensk plane crash.

AFP - Poland is expected to hold the first round of presidential elections on June 13 or 20 following the death of president Lech Kaczynski in an air crash, a senior parliamentary official said Wednesday.

"From the beginning of this tragedy theoretically there have only been three possible dates for the speaker to call an election. Three election Sundays: June 6 -- which has already expired -- June 13 which is still possible or June 20," parliamentary chancellery chief Lech Czapla told a news conference.

"The best date to announce an election on June 13 is today," he added.

Polish lawmakers were meeting later Wednesday to finalise the date of the polls.

Under the Polish constitution the election date must be announced within two weeks of the president's death on April 10, and the ballot must be held within 60 days of the election announcement.